’ T i A 

MEADE 

4LJ 

,8 

°py i ANNIVERSARY ORATION 

BEFORE THE 


YEW YORK ALPHA 


OF THE 

Phi Beta Kappa Society; 

DELIVERED AT 

UNION UNIVERSITY, 



Hon. Charles J. Jenkins, LL.D., 


PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY, 
SCHENECTADY. 






























18 


















4-LJ 


































The annual address before the New York Alpha, of 
the Phi Beta Kappa Society, was delivered at the First 
Presbyterian Church, in the city of Schenectady, on the 
evening of June the 23d, 1874. 

The President of the Society, the Hon. Clarkson N. 
Potter, called the audience to order, and said : 

At the meeting of the New York Alpha, of the Phi 
Beta Kappa Society this morning, two of their members 
were present, who were initiated into the Society more 
than fifty years ago. These brethren have, since their 
graduation passed, one in the South the other in the 
North, lives of distinction and usefulness both in their 
profession and in the public service. At the expiration 
of fifty years from their graduation they have returned 
full of years and full of honor to take part in the exer¬ 
cises of their Alma Mater, and the proceedings of their 
Society. One of these distinguished gentlemen is the 
regular orator of the Society for this year. It is becoming 
that he should be introduced to you by the other.* I 
therefore call upon the Hon. Ira Harris to introduce to 
this audience the orator of the evening. 

JUDGE HARRIS then said. 

Ladies and Gentlemen—I stand here to introduce to 
you the orator of the occasion, 


♦Hon. Ira Harris, LL.D. heretofore Judge of the Supreme Court of New York, 
Senator of the United States, Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. 



2 


Fifty-two years ago this present. Summer, I attended 
the commencement at Hamilton College. I had jqst 
completed the fourth lustrum of my age, and was, as I 
thought prepared to enter the junior class ot College. 
While at the commencement, I saw upon the platform a 
person whose appearance attracted my notice. 

On inquiring I learned that it was Dr. Nott, and that 
he was the guest there of President Davis. I then re¬ 
solved that before leaving the place, I would have an 
interview with him if possible. It was a rash thing, for 
a boy who had just rounded his twentieth year to do, 
but in executing this purpose, I made one of the best 
friends of my life. After the College exercises were over, 
I went to the residence of President Davis on College 
Hill, and enquired for Dr. Nott. I found him there, and 
was very kindly and graciously received by him. I told 
him my errand, that it was my purpose to enter Union 
College if I could be sure that I could enter the Junior 
Class. He invited me to his room, and asked me what 
studies I had pursued. I told him as well as I could. 
And he then handed he a small Greek Testament, asking 
me to read the first four verses of the Gospel by Luke. 
He then told me to conjugate a verb, and further continued 
the examination, and having expressed himself satisfied, 
wrote a certificate stating that I was qualified to enter 
the Junior Class. With this Certificate in my pocket, 
I returned to my home, which was about fifty miles west 
of the College, and at the proper time, came to Schenec¬ 
tady, armed and equipped with my Certificate, which I 
presented to the Kegister Major Holland, who entered 
my name, as a member of the Class. 

The next day a young man from the State of Georgia 
was received into the Class. He sat by my side in the 
recitation loom all the way through the Collegiate course. 
We stood together on this very platform, in this very 


3 


house, in a Class of seventy nine to be invested with 
Collegiate honors. 

When this young man left College, he returned to 
Georgia, and studied law with Judge Berrien, one of the 
most distinguished men of that State. My young friend 
was received with favor by the people, and through his 
whole career has been highly honored. He has held 
many important offices. Was often elected to the Legis¬ 
lature, and frequently was Speaker of the body of which 
he was a member. At one time he was Attorney Gene¬ 
ral of the State, and for a long period was a Judge of its 
highest Court. He was also elected Governor of Georgia, 
and was offered a seat in the Cabinet of one of the Presi¬ 
dents of the United States, which for personal reasons he 
declined. And now after a brilliant career of fifty years, 
he returns in the evening of his life, to visit once more 
the home of his education. 

We were together elected members of the Phi Beta 
Kappa, and initiated into that order by the revered 
Father of the gentleman, now President of our Society. 

Having thus given you a sketch of our early associa¬ 
tion, and of my friend’s subsequent laurels, I have now 
great pleasure in presenting to you Governor Charles J. 
Jenkins of Georgia, as the regular orator of our Society. 

Gov. Jenkins then delivered the following 

OBATIOIsT. 

Mr. President and Gentlemen : 

As the recognized head of creation, in the world we 
inhabit, Man lives under the daily pressure of a weighty 
responsibility. 

From the accepted Mosaic Genesis we learn, that 
when the Supreme Architect had surveyed all the work 
of his hands, and found it ‘‘very good/’ He gave to Man 


4 


“dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of 
the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth.” And 
again, “the Lord planted a garden eastward in Eden”— 
“and the Lord God took the man, and put him in the 
Garden of Eden, to dress it, and keep it.” What was 
Adam’s mission in Eden, is the mission of his posterity 
“over all the earth.” 

In surveying the works of nature we are impressed— 
First, with their singular adaptation to the wants, and 
uses of animal and vegetable life, and Secondly, with 
the marvellous garniture which profusely embellishes the 
useful. The tree of the forest, so valuable in the affairs 
of life, by its majestic, symmetrical form, and its beau¬ 
teous foliage, attracts the admiration, and claims the 
careful regard of its appointed master. Before the fruit 
comes the flower, and the richly-tin ted and gracefully 
waving blade adorns the stalk, which presently tenders 
to his hand the well ripened ear. 

There, too, as the representative of a large class^ 
yielding no fruit, nor possessing any utilitarian value (as 
yet discovered), modestly blooms the lily of the field, 
more gorgeously arrayed than was Solomon, in all his 
glory. 

Every product of Nature which supplies the wants, or 
delights the senses of man, was put under his hand, to 
“dress it, and keep it.” This dressing and keeping 
involves the development as well of the beautiful, as of 
the useful. God made both for man, and he dare not 
ignore either. 

Again, there were lifeless things abundantly distribu¬ 
ted over the surface, and deeply imbedded in the 
bowels of the earth, whose utility was not apparent to 
untutored reason—as clay for brick, lime for mortar ; 
these and granite, for structure, and marble, and precious 
stones for ornamentation. There were metals hidden in 


5 


oncouth ore—some grosser, yet adapted to vastly import¬ 
ant purposes, and others, finer, rarer, and more beautiful 
—possessing a purity and an intrinsic value, which fitted 
them to be moulded into measures and representations 
of all values. There existed also in many substances, 
animal, vegetable and mineral, recondite qualities which, 
though not cognizable by the physical senses, were capa¬ 
ble of separation, and application to the soothing of 
pain, the healing of wounds, and the cure of diseases. 

And yet again there were subtle elements, of vast 
power for good or for evil—as electricity, reposing in the 
bosom of the earth, whose vivid and scathing lightnings, 
and deafening thunders, seemingly served only to terrify 
simple humanity—fire, dormant alike in the dull cold 
flint, in the bright and cheering sunbeam, and in the 
dazzling electric flash—and steam, slumbering, unsus¬ 
pected, in limpid, cooling waters. 

The earth itself, was to be explored and peopled; and 
to this end oceans, separating continents, must be tra¬ 
versed. Nor n^ay it be overlooked, that above him were 
spread the Heavens, studded with shining orbs—to be 
measured—their distances calculated, their revolutions 
observed, and their mutual relations and dependencies 
ascertained. 

The dominion, thus established, and which has contin¬ 
uously existed, moreover, embraced, not only, the idea 
of control over inferior animate and inanimate matter, 
but the more complex one of control over himself—of 
individual self-government, and of the government of 
the entire race, by the race. 

It is scarcely possible to exaggerate the responsibility 
of such dominion. It does not, however, in our day, 
press equally upon all men. Aside from differences of 
race, marked by unmistakable, physical traits, there are 
two conditions of humanity, widely apart, by reason of 


6 


exterior causes of development, on the one side, and of 
repression, on the other, which we denominate, severally, 
civilization and barbarism. In each of these conditions, 
moreover, degrees are plainly discernable. It comes to us 
from Divine authority, that to whom much is given, of 
him will much be required. 

Barbarism and civilization are correlative terms.’ It 
may be difficult to define with accuracy the line of sepa¬ 
ration between them—to determine where the one ends, 
and the other begins—to specify what modes of life, or 
lines of thought, belong exclusively to either. 

But, by contrast, the general outlines of each are 
sufficiently apparent. The grand characteristic of the one, 
is the pursuit of present individual enjoyment—that of 
the other, associate action for the improvement of the 
race, the progressive melioration of the state of human¬ 
ity. 

As in its best estate, hitherto known, there is much to 
be reformed, much to be wholly changed—and as each 
attainment of a higher altitude discloses existing defects 
and possible improvements, previously unconceived, we 
conclude, the field of operation is illimitable. 

If we cannot define with precision the beginning (a 
point at which man has stood), how shall we indicate 
the end, to which his advances tend? Happily this is 
not a vital point connected with the general subject. 
First in importance is a fixed unwavering purpose to 
advance, and next a careful consideration, in the light of 
experience, of the means best adapted to perpetual pro¬ 
gress. These means, if wisely chosen, must have refer¬ 
ence to man’s complex being—must provide for his 
physical, his intellectual and his moral necessities. It 
may be assumed that those of the first class will never 
lack provision, when those of the two latter are properly 
cared for. The cultivation and development, in just 


7 


equilibrium, of his moral attributes and intellectual 
powers, and their judicious employment in subservience 
of the general good, is therefore the great problem of 
civilization. These do not always go haud in hand—do 
not necessarily progress pari passu. Yet any system 
which assiduously cultivates either and neglects the 
other, must end in failure. The product of that which 
neglects both, is the savage roaming in his primeval for¬ 
est. The result of that which aims solely at moral purity, 
ignoring mental cultivation, is the Anchorite in his cell, 
who to avoid sin, shuns society. Of that which despis¬ 
ing morality, values only intellectual power, Satan him¬ 
self is the great exempler. 

Although the idea presented by the term civilization, 
is sufficiently distinct for practical purposes, the condi¬ 
tion implied by it is not precisely the same in all 
localities, even where community of language and con¬ 
stant intercourse obtain. There are modifying causes 
which produce marked effects upon distinct peoples, 
among whom they exist, and to whom they are confined. 
Doubtless geographical position, soil, and climate exert 
much influence Religion and Government make their 
impress on the existing status. Hence, among different 
nationalities, though the general advance be the same, 
each utilizing the discoveries and improvements of all 
the others, there arise distinct types, traceable to these 
modifying causes. 

In this view it becomes important that the existing 
status of civilization in each nationality, should be 
occasionally brought under close scrutiny—its achieve¬ 
ments noted, its tendencies observed and its short com¬ 
ings exposed. Your attention is therefore invited to a 
cursory review of the civilization of the nineteenth cen¬ 
tury, and chiefly of its American type. It is a subject 
the exhaustive treatment of which would fill volumes. But 


8 


in this humble effort, no higher aim is proposed than to 
point out prominent land-marks of progress, of stagna¬ 
tion, or of retrogradation, observable in the eighth de¬ 
cade of the cycle—to indicate apparent defects, and pos¬ 
sibly (with diffidence) to suggest remedies. 

Even one whose life commenced whilst the century 
itself was young, contrasting the movements of society, 
the course of trade, the appliances of industry, the state 
of the useful arts, the bearing of science upon art, and 
the facilities of intercommunication, as first intelligently 
noted by himself, and as now presented in panoramic 
view, is amazed at the changes which challenge his con¬ 
sideration. 

It will probably be found, upon examination, that the 
most active agents in this progress—the chief public 
benefactors, are those men who address themselves per¬ 
sistently'to the study of nature, and those who practically 
utilize discoveries made by the former. The store-house 
of nature, wherein are deposited valuable substances for 
the use of man, is inexhaustable. 

The Chemist, by analysis, is every year evolving 
from crude materials, essences which in their liberated 
state, possess curative qualities, or properties valuable in 
the arts. These again, by combination, are made to 
accomplish results, of which neither is capable. To such 
discoveries and appliances we are indebted for large 
additions to the materia medica, and for corresponding 
improvements in the healing art. The skillful physician 
is now furnished with substitutes for drugs of the olden 
time, which cure without enervating, and relieve local 
suffering without poisoning the system. 

By the analysis of soils and of plants, the agriculturist, 
is instructed what earth is best adapted to the staple he 
elects to produce; or if choice be denied him, what sub¬ 
stances will most surely supply ascertained defects. Old 


9 

systems were simply exhaustive of vegetable aliment. In 
this day, its exhaustion is received as evidence of bad 
husbandry, whilst good husbandry asserts itself by res¬ 
toring productive capacity to soils ruthlessly impoverished. 
Thus has agriculture—the most universal—the most 
useful, and the grandest branch of human industry, been 
greatly advanced—advanced more perceptibly in the 
present than in any preceding century. And this 
change is a boon conferred by science, alike upon grow-' 
ers and consumers of natural products. 

The mechanical powers have long been used, but the 
severe study of them, and elaborate experiments, have 
bought them within the range of a distinct branch of 
science wherein are explained their capacities, peculiar 
.adaptations, and possible combinations- Human ingen¬ 
uity is year by year devising implements and machines, 
which serve new mechanical uses, or perform old ones 
with increased economy of power and of time. These 
are utilized in every branch of industry—notably in 
agriculture, in architecture, in mining, in manufacturing, 
and in transportation of persons and property. Every 
such invention, to a greater or less extent, liberates 
human muscle from wearying tension, or painful strain— 
liberates it, if wisely directed, for lighter and scarcely 
less useful employment. 

But all of these wonderful mechanical contrivances 
are, in and of themselves, inert matter. They may be 
pressed into movement of surprising exactness and 
power; but the impetus of this pressure, must be contin¬ 
uous, or the unremitting force of gravitation will soon 
bring all parts again to rest. Thus far no efiort of 
ingenuity, though long and patiently so directed, has 
succeeded in imparting to the most perfect machinery 
the quality of perpetual motion. Hence, to be available, 
it must receive foreign propulsion. For this, the most 


/ 


10 

ready resort was to animal'muscle, human or brutal, or 
both combined. But as people multiplied, and with 
their numbers grew their necessities and desires, the 
desideratum of a motive power that would neither tire, 
nor sicken, nor die, was more sensibly felt. It is not 
surprising that in this emergency recourse w r as had to 
water, that mobile and ponderous element, which asserts 
itself alike in the flowing river, and in the bounding 
cataract. With the various methods in which this 
simple element is now daily applied, w r e are all familiar; 
and so cheap and so subservient is its action, that we 
may safely assume, it will never fall into disuse. 

But a pressing necessity for machinery w T as often real¬ 
ized, in localities where running w^ater was inaccessible. 
Moreover, in the onward rush of improvement, a demand 
arose for locomotive machinery, requiring a propulsive 
agent, that could be generated minute by minute, as 
movement progressed Extravagant as this demand, 
viewed in the abstract, may seem, w^e now know that 
Nature in the plentitude of beneficence, provided from 
the beginning for its supply. Science after persistent, 
searching interrogation has wrung from her the secret, 
curiously hidden and inappreciably valuable. From the 
earliest times, man has claimed familiar acquaintance 
with the elements of fire and water He soon discovered 
that the latter brought in contact with the former, how¬ 
ever furiously raging, utterly extinguished it; and that 
the former might be so applied to the latter, as to cause 
its disappearance from sight and touch. Hence, the two 
came to be regarded as simply antagonistic. But 
thorough investigation of the last mentioned phenome¬ 
non disclosed the fact that the disappearing fluid had 
only assumed a sublimated form, greatly increased vol¬ 
ume, and possessing an almost irrepressible expansive 
force; and upon the abstraction of the exciting cause, 


11 


returned to its normal condition. 

When steam was first discovered, may never be accu¬ 
rately ascertained. Doubtless it disclosed itself to the 
notable house-wife, whose good fortune it was, to be first 
endowed with that r.ow indispensable utensil, the tea 
kettle. It issued from the spout, in visible, vaporous 
column; it hissed in her ears; it tortured tne movable 
top into noisy clatter. But she, (good simple soul,) 
gratefully accepted all this, as a benign provision of 
Nature, to inform her (cumbered with much serving,) 
precisely, ivhen, the kettle boiled. Indeed her more 
pretentious lord was marvellously slow to take, and im¬ 
prove the hint thus incidentally given. In the latter 
part of the eighteenth century, much thought and ex¬ 
periment were bestowed upon the use of steam as a 
motive power, lind it may be conceded that its availa¬ 
bility, as such, was then clearly established. But during 
the nineteenth, vast advances have been made in that 
direction. Its first general use was in propelling crafts 
upon navigable rivers, and in lakes and harbors. It has 
also entered into lively competition with its parent ele- 
ement as a stationary power. 

It is not a little remarkable, that simultaneously with 
progressive adaptation of machinery to this newly dis¬ 
covered force, men's attention, and especially that of 
miners, was directed to the invention of improved roads, 
for the transportation, over short distances, of heavy 
freights, with economy of time and labor. These two 
classes of inventors, advancing on separate lines, during 
the latter years of the last, and the earlier of the present 
century, achieved kindred results—kindred not only in 
their relation to a common object, but in their easy 
combination with augmented effect. Then was con¬ 
ceived the idea, that by embanking ravines, bridging 
rivers, excavating hills, and tunnelling mountains, any 


12 


two points on the same con-tinent, however distant, might 
he connected, by the stable, safe and nearly level iron 
railway. That over such a highway, steam applied to 
properly adapted machinery, besides water and fuel for 
its own generation, would be capable of transporting 
enough of passengers and freight to yield a compensating 
return for so vast an investment. Bold and startling 
conception—surpassed in wonder only by its successful 
accomplishment ere the century had numbered half its 
years. And now, whilst its third quarter is incomplete, 
a survey of the maps of all civilized countries discloses 
a net-work of railways overlying their entire surfaces. 
Upon these hourly, in opposite directions, the space an¬ 
nihilating locomotive whirls its long trains of heavily 
laden cars, with bewildering speed, and endless success¬ 
ion. How striking the change in the daily movements of 
life, social, commercial, and international. New sights 
every hour fix the spectator's gaze, new sounds fill the 
air, new wonders strain contemplation. So that now the 
lover of ease and quiet, who values more the repose of 
his nerves than all the interest civilization' can throw 
around him, to escape the shrill whistle, and the startling 
shriek of the iron-horse (as noisy as it is strong,) must 
fix his “ lodge in some vast wilderness, some boundless 
continuity of shade.” Nor there will his repose be long. 

But the locomotive supremacy of steam was not long 
limited to the land. It was soon made to plow the ocean 
and whistle triumphantly at the fickle winds, whose 
inconstancy had so long baffled the calculations, and dis-' 
appointed the hopes of the venturous mariner. By 
means of these improvements in locomotion, a tour around 
the world, alternately traversing continents and oceanst 
as they interpose, may be accomplished in less time, than 
within our day an American tourist required for very 
limited travel in Europe, 


13 


f 


Verily our lot seems to be cast in the time indicated 
by the prophet of ol l, when “ many shall run to and fro 
and knowledge shall be increased.” Institutions of learn¬ 
ing are multiplied beyond all previous experience. If 
those of the highest grade, wherein all knowledge, really 
valuable may be acquired, are comparatively few, they 
are accessible to all who resolve, to u Drink deep of the 
Pierian Spring.” At the same time he of limited means, 
or limited aspirations, wherever born or reared, may find 
at his own door, a fountain, if not deep, mentally invig¬ 
orating, and practically useful. 

The art of printing which is the sole vehicle, for the 
dissemination, and sole multiplier of records, for the per¬ 
petuation, of knowledge acquired, was, in the beginning 
of the nineteenth century, scarcely adequate to the de¬ 
mands upon its productive capacity. When the age of 
mechanical inventions, and ot scientific development of 
new motive powers, was fully inaugurated, it became a 
favored beneficiary. In that department, as in others, 
Steam imparted its mighty impetus. To this century, 
and to our country, appertains the honor of having produc¬ 
ed a combination of mechanical contrivances, and an adap¬ 
tation of motive agency, the unequalled efficiency of which, 
has won for it the appellation of the Power Press. Millions 
upon millions ot unbound papers, are daily, almost hourly, 
imprinted with current events in all localities, and with 
valuable information gathered from the four quarters of 
the Globe, including brief notices of discoveries in science 
and inventions in art. Books containing every variety 
of reading—religious, political, scientific and literary, are 
issued from a teeming press, in numbers beyond all pre¬ 
cedent. The same wonder working power, which, in all 
seasons, by day, and by night, multiplies letters, as the 
trees of the forest multiply leaves in the Spring, distrib¬ 
utes them over the face of the whole earth, more rapid- 


i 



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]y, and more widely, than the winds scatter the dried 
leaves, and the winged seeds of Autumn. 

But Steam has not yet developed a maximum of speed, 
which for all purposes satisfies man’s requirements. 
Spoken words, recognized as signs of ideas, die in air, on 
reaching the compass of the human voice. If imprinted 
for transmission afar, they become identified with weighty 
matter, and fall into the mass of common freight. But 
why should ideas, the pure, imponderable creations of 
mind, traverse space as slowly, as gross matter, that never 
relaxes its gravitating resistance to motion? So ques¬ 
tioned man, as he matured enterprises, requiring prompt 
and constant communication with his antipodes. 

Then he claimed in behalf— 

11 The mind, the Spirit, the Promethean spark, 

“ The lightning of his being—Messenger— 

“ Pervading, and far darting as itself.” 

What was there in Nature, to respond to this sublim¬ 
ated aspiration, save that subtle essence, which flames in 
her own lightning? But dare he tamper with this mys¬ 
terious death-dealing force? From time immemorial he 
had regarded it as the one element against which no 
other could be opposed; and which he was doomed to 
contemplate in hopeless, resistless awe. Hitherto his 
prayer concerning it had been, that the seal of silence 
might be placed upon its thunders, the veil of darkness 
drawn over its flashes, and—a chain of adamant bound 
about its bolts. But, (he reflected) however terrific in 
its action, it is at most, but an element of Nature; its 
abiding place, is the earth, the theatre of its startling 
exhibitions, is the air—an appendage of the earth—and 
was not Man established in dominion over all the earth? 
During many centuries, timidly and at a respectful dis¬ 
tance, .he carefully observed its phenomena, noted its 
attractions, and repulsions—and gradually brought it in 


15 


subjection to experiment. His first aim was to protect 
his own habitation—his refuge and his castle, against its 
destructive action. So late as the last century, a fellow 
country-man, after close observation and profound 
thought, reached the conclusion, that there were natural 
substances, having for it an attraction strong enough to 
divert it from its course, and to restrain it from contact 
with less congenial objects, in however close proximity. 
His preparations all made, he essayed to meet it in mid 
air, where with the wind, and the rain, it enacted the 
fear-inspiring drama of storm, and offer for its return to 
the bosom of the earth a highway of his own construction. 
Success, more complete, never waited upon human en¬ 
terprise. Hear theresult, chronicled in his own language, 
as simple, as his intellect was grand. 

u It has pleased God in His goodness to mankind, at 
“ length, to discover to them the means of securing their 
“ habitations, and other buildings, from mischief by 
“ thunder and lightning.” Then follows the method. 
Should not all peoples, in all times, devoutly acknowledge 
“ the goodness of God to mankind’ * in the gift of a 
Franklin? 

This was control acquired over the element whilst 
careering in tempestuous fury, and greatly encouraged 
the master intellects of his own, and subsequent times, 
in further experiment. To make it available as a con¬ 
veyor of intelligence, means must be devised to summon 
it at pleasure, gauge its volume, and control its action. 
•By careful experiment and persistent scientific investiga¬ 
tion, these objects have been accomplished, and a new 
system of intercommunication established. 

The highway for steam, has been supplemented by a 
highway for electricity. And as oceans were not per¬ 
mitted to obstruct the course of the former, so neither do 
they interrupt the progress of the latter, doing man’s 


16 


errands. Its appointed pathway is laid in their most 
profound depths; as, buried in earth, or suspended in 
air, it spans continents. Noiselessly pursuing its pre¬ 
pared track, it faithfully delivers at one point, messages 
received at another, thousands of miles distant—delivers 
them, not in the thunder tones of its native, unbridled 
utterance, but in letters and words inscribed, as legible 
as the printers’ handiwork. In view of what we know 
to be daily occuring, contemplate for a moment this re¬ 
sult. A thought—it may concern religion,or government 
or science;—the past, the present, or the future—time or 
eternity—a thought, that immaterial product of human 
brain elaborated perhaps in some obscure garret, is 
caught up by the lightning, and in a few hours transfused 
into all educated minds throughout the world. 

No wonder that when the achievement was announced, 
incredulity first scoffed—then doubted, then believed, in 
speechless amazement. And yet, this is but an evolution 
of man’s delegated dominion. 

The atmosphere—its variations in temperature, and in 
moisture, its prevailing winds, and the ordinary sequen¬ 
ces of certain conditions, have been brought under sys¬ 
tematic scrutiny, and placed on record. With increased 
facilities of communication, by means of the electric tel¬ 
egraph, observations are made in various localities, under 
control of the Federal Government, and transmitted to 
a bureau at its seat. These are there collated, and 
interpreted by general laws, ascertained as controlling 
the weather, and thence by the same channels, premon - 
itions of what may be expected for the morrow, are dis¬ 
tributed over the whole country, and by the early morn¬ 
ing papers communicated to the reading public. So 
nearly have actual results, conformed to these prognos¬ 
tications, that the public, more inquisitive as to coming 
weather than any other subject, has accorded to them 


17 


a general credence. The husbandman may be thus pre¬ 
monished, when to postpone, and when to commence 
seeding his fields, or harvesting their products; the mar¬ 
iner, in port, when to abide in safe harbor, and when to 
weigh anchor, and commit his freighted bark to the 
winds and waves of ocean. Signals are also displayed on 
the coast, warning those afloat, of coming storms, which 
render a near aproach to and perilous. 

One of the most curious results of philosophic deduc¬ 
tion, from scientific investigation, is furnished by the art 
of photography. Its origin may be traced to the discov¬ 
ery that light produced vision, by imprinting on the 
retina of the eye, an image of the object seen. It was 
moreover observed that by means of a reflector, the eye 
could clearly discern an object entirely without its angle 
of vision, the image of which, upon removal of the mirror, 
instantly disappeared. Hence philosophy concluded, 
that light had the property of depicting objects, on which 
it fell, and from which it was reflected, upon other surfa¬ 
ces. Experimental science then addressed itself to the 
preparation of surfaces that would retain and develop 
the image impressed, after the impinging light had been 
withdrawn. Thus has arisen a distinct art, which more 
speedily, more cheaply, and more accurately, than any 
other, delineates for preservation, the human face and 
form divine, or any natural or artificial objects, or a 
grouping of all, in landscape. Pause now, upon three 
exponents of man's dealing with nature. He has made 
water, both in its normal, and its sublimated .state, his 
potent motor—electricity his swift messenger—and sun¬ 
light his truthful engraver. But pause not long, either 
upon nature, and all her known, and unknown elemental 
treasures—or upon man, her persistent developer. These 
both point to the great First-cause—the supreme Divini¬ 
ty, that spake into being, the stupendous system of the 


18 


former; and formed the latter in his own image, endow 
ed with powers, jlist less than creative. There, is due the 
undivided tribute of grateful adoration. 

It is not pretended that this enumeration of advances 
in science, and in art, is by any means full. They have 
been selected as among the most incontestable and im¬ 
pressive. Enough has probably been said to establish 
two propositions, toward which the argument tends. 
First, that the nineteenth century has been exceedingly 
prolific of scientific discoveries, to which our own country 
has very largely contributed. Secondly,'that these have 
not been permitted to rest in the theory, simply increas¬ 
ing abstract knowledge, or widening the field of specula¬ 
tive philosophy; but on the contrary, have been practic¬ 
ally applied to improvement in the arts—to the supply 
of human wants, the mitigation of human suffering, and 
the increase of human power. 

This, however, is not all of civilization. There is 
truth in the trite apothegm, that “ knowledge is power/' 
but power may be exerted for good or for evil. The dis¬ 
tinction between man’s moral and intellectual nature, is 
no less palpable, than that between the latter, and his 
physical nature. 

The physical entity, that which can be seen, heard, 
and felt, is but a curiously contrived master piece of 
mechanism, of which, the will, an attribute of mind, is 
the motive power. But we learn both from consciousness, 
and observation, that there is still behind, an agency de¬ 
signed to control the will, as it moves the body, which 
we call the moral sense. It coexists with evil intents, 
and practices, sometimes dominant—sometimes set at 
naught. It may be so suppressed as to be scarcely ca¬ 
pable of self assertion, or it may be so developed and 
strengthened as to control the strongest will. In pro¬ 
portion to the increase of man’s power by the progressive 


19 


acquisition of knowledge, a necessity arises for more vig¬ 
orous control by this governing agent. 

No true estimate can be made of civilization, in any 
age, or in any nation, without scrutiny into the prevail¬ 
ing morals. Whether, therefore, it bring pleasure or 
pain—honor or shame, we must look upon the reverse of 
the flattering medal awarded to intellectual progress. 
What then is the moral aspect of society, in our day, and 
in our country? 

There is a prevalent impression (probably too well foun¬ 
ded) that certain practices, charitably denominated vices, 
such as intemperance, and gambling, have been of late, 
and stiil are, alarmingly on the increase. These have a 
fatal enchantment for the young; and the longer indulged, 
the more absolute their sway. When thoroughly domin¬ 
ant, they unfit their victims for domestic, social, and 
public duties; and often lead them blind-fold into criminal 
courses. Can we point to a decade in our country’s history 
in which the whole catalogue of crime—crime against 
government—crime against individuals, against their 
persons, their property and their reputations, has been 
so fully, and so frequently exemplified, as in the present? 
These things are chronicled in the issues of the daily press, 
and their perusal may well fill the hearts of the virtuous 
and the. patriotic with dismay. Homicide in every form, 
under all conceivable circumstances, is the chief staple of 
their sensational articles. Murder is committed by open, 
ferocious assault; by wily assassination; in resentment of 
real or fancied wrongs; for the gratification of unprovoked 
malice; and as a prelude to robbery. It is perpetrated 
upon unconscious sleepers, upon infirm old age, helpless 
womanhood, and innocent childhood. It is done in vio¬ 
lation of parental, filial, fraternal, and conjugal ties; and 
occasionally the bloody tragedy of domestic slaughter, 
closes with the death of the self convicted, self executed 


20 


felon. Its most threatening demonstration is the doing 
to death, of unconvicted, untried malefactors, by excited 
unreasoning mobs. This is requiting flagrant crime, by 
the commission of defiant crime—it is the pretended 
vindication of law and order, by the tumultuous and 
disorderly violation of law—it is a drama of anarchy, 
fearfully enacted. Arson, burglary, robbery, and every 
species of felony defined in criminal codes, facilitated by 
ingeniously devised appliances, have been reduced to a 
systematic practice, which constitutes art—and adopted 
as occupations. The allegation is not, that such crimes 
are new, but that they are multipled beyond all previous 
experience, and practiced with artistic expertness. 

Rising above the level of the notoriously vile, placed, 
by general consent, under the ban of public opinion, and 
(theoretically at least) of law, come we now within the 
purlieus of reputable employment, and personal respec¬ 
tability. Survey the entire field of public office,. of cor¬ 
porate agency, and of private trust, wherein important 
interests, and large values, are, from necessity entrusted 
to the accredited skill and probity of one man. In pro¬ 
portion to the increase of population, the expansion of 
government, and the introduction of new branches of 
industry, positions of this character multiply. Consider 
seriously the numerous defalcations, in the entire range 
of fiduciary emplojunent, chronicled from week to week. 
Know we not that by reason of their frequency and mag¬ 
nitude, governments have been temporarily embarrassed, 
excessive taxation necessitated, corporations paralyzed or 
bankrupted, and large private fortunes dissipated? Thous¬ 
ands reared in wealth, untutored in the ways of thrift 
and seeking security by paying wages to skill, have been 
reduced to abject poverty. 

A thorough comprehension of the subject under dis¬ 
cussion requires a reference to commercial morality, lim- 


21 


ited however, to the credit system, which has attained to 
enormous dimensions, and to certain abnormal branches 
of trade, of which it is the fruitful and nourishing mother. 
These parasitic excressences, reach their highest devel¬ 
opment at great commercial centres; they abstract aliment 
from business of legitimate, useful growth, and often pro¬ 
duce decay and ruin. 

The element of credit, has become so incorporated with 
the commerce of the world, that its eradication, if desi¬ 
rable, would be impracticable. As well might it be 
proposed, where a sound monetary system obtained, to 
dispense with coin, as a representative of values, and 
return to primitive interchange of commodities. Credit 
within rational limits, is neither prejudicial to commerce, 
nor vitiating to personal character; but its undue ex¬ 
pansion injuriously affects both. Such expansion is 
observable chiefly in the excessive increase of a circula¬ 
ting paper medium; and in the creation of immense loans, 
usually on long time, upon interest. The substitution 
of paper currency, having no intrinsic value, for coin, 
having such value, in commercial exchanges, once admit¬ 
ted, has an invariable tendency to abuse. Its justifica¬ 
tion rests upon supposed convertibility into coin, and 
whilst this is maintained, all may be well. But excess¬ 
ive issue leads to failure of redemption—depreciation of 
value, and of purchasing capacity; and a supervening 
demand for increased volume. General failure to redeem, 
indicates excessive issue, and an unsound monetary sys¬ 
tem. This patiently endured for a time, may find relief 
in the evolutions of commerce, acting like the vis medi- 
catrix naturge on the human body. But the attempt to 
supply impaired quality, by augmented quantity, aggra¬ 
vates the disease, and indefinitely postpones cure. 

Our people are remarkable for their spirit of enterprise, 
into which unfortunately there often enters more of head- 


22 


long impulse, than of cool judgment.- Given, a line of 
railroad to be constructed, they seldom pause upon the 
fact, that the means of accomplishing the object are not 
in hand. Subscriptions to stock represent capital; and 
if payment in whole, or in part be inconvenient, recourse 
is had to loans, secured, either by mortgage of the splen¬ 
did property in posse, or by State endorsement, unfor- 
tnnately too easily obtained. The object may be accom¬ 
plished—the investment may take the form of value— 
but the tangible property represents two distinct subjects 
of bargain and sale on the market, each of a nominal 
value equal to its own—viz, the stock subscribed, which 
did not, and the bonds negotiated, which did, build the 
road. The result is the introduction on change in com¬ 
mercial centres, of many millions of fictitious values. 
These two methods of inflating credit, to be appreciated, 
must be considered together—a very large volume, of 
inconvertible paper currency, as a purchasing medium; 
and an immense aggregate of stocks, wholly or partially 
fictitious, and of bonds having the same basis with them, 
as subjects of bargain and sale. They act and react upon 
each other—together they make a hot-bed of speculation, 
which grows into a mania. Whether considered in ref¬ 
erence to aims or results, the traffic is cousin-german to 
the practice of gambling; and is unquestionably, a most 
efficient training school, for the undisguised staking of 
money upon the cast of a die, or the turn of a card. 
This is all fearfully demoralizing, and traced to its source, 
will be found to originate in vicious legislation, affecting 
monetary affairs, and corporate franchises. 

The review contemplated, would be imperfect without 
a passing notice bestowed upon political morality. Our 
system of Government is eminently complex. We have 
National, State, and Municipal governments; each class 
whereof exercises, within certain territorial limits, and 


23 


upon certain well defined matters, legislative, executive 
and judicial functions. The resident of an incorporated 
city or town is of necessity at all times, both a constituent 
and a subject, of each of these several classes of govern¬ 
ment; and every citizen of the United States bears those 
relations to two of them. Sound political morality re¬ 
quires that each class should limit its control to its ap¬ 
pointed sphere of action, and within that sphere, should 
faithfully, energetically and economically perform its 
functions Encroachment of one upon another, is as 
conspicuously immoral, as the assumption or violation 
by an individual, of the personal rights of his neighbor, 
The neglect or feeble performance of official duty, or the 
prostitution of power to the promotion of personal ends, 
or the lavish and careless expenditure of public funds, is 
at once corrupt, and corrupting. The constant boast of 
Americans is, that they have the best, because the freest 
government in the world. Its excellence must be de¬ 
termined by its fruits. If here, more than elsewhere, 
the rights of person and property are secure—law and 
order enforced, official integrity and energy illustrated, 
then so much of the boast is justified. Its free element 
consists chiefly in the fact that, every man has a voice in 
it—participates in the exercise of ultimate sovereignty— 
in other words that the People, both in its construction, 
and in its administration, are the primal source of power. 
On this score (theoretically, at least,) we may concede 
that it is free enough. But they who so complacently 
exult in this oft repeated boast, are prone to forget a 
pregnant corollary,-resulting from the proposition, viz: 
that as the source of all power, the people are directly 
responsible for the results of its exercise. If in the exer¬ 
cise of the elective franchise, they appoint to office incap¬ 
able, or self-seeking and corrupt men there is, for them, 
no escape from responsibility. If it be asked to whom 


24 


they are responsible, the answer is, to their fellow sover¬ 
eigns, whose counsels and warnings they neglect, to 
mankind, who have an interest in their good government 
—and lastly to God, whose vicegerents all depositaries 
of political power are. Show me a people persistently 
insensible to such considerations, and I will show you a 
people, who, although (in the sense indicated) they may 
have the freest government in the world, certainly have 
not the best, for them. I will show you a people sadly 
demoralized. This it will be observed, is not opinion 
applied, but hypothetically expressed, to be used as a 
touchstone of political morality. It has already been 
said that in such a government as ours, whilst each man 
participates in the sovereign power, he, segregated is 
subject to it. So in applying the touchstone each must 
assume the role of censor-morum over the mass, judging by 
results, and must conform his own future conduct, to the 
judgment at which he may arrive. 

Our national Government extends over the entire terri¬ 
tory of all the States embraced within the Union. To 
its management is entrusted the whole range of inter¬ 
course with foreign nations, and the regulation of com¬ 
merce, including customs. It has in addition the power 
of internal taxation- Its power is immense, and with the 
rapid growth of the Republic, may be overshadowing, 
and irresistible. This was foreseen from the beginning, 
and hence, as the design was to establish, not a consoli¬ 
dated, but a federative Republic, the “Free and inde¬ 
pendent States,” uniting in its formation, adopted a 
written Constitution. Thereby certain designated powers 
were delegated to the United States, and it was explicitly 
declared that all others, not prohibited to the States, 
were reserved to the States, or to the people- The 
instrument now nearly a century old, must be regarded 
by any intelligent reader, a marvel of wise statesmanship 


25 


—marvelous in its judicious partition of powers—and in 
its unsurpassed perspicuity. If, in the history of the 
times, there he any greater marvel, that will be found in 
the fact of its having been so variously construed. And 
for this there must be an ascertainable cause. So also 
each State of the Union has its separate Constitution 
providing for the exercise of the reserved powers. Argu¬ 
ment is not needed to prove that governments so consti¬ 
tuted and so related cannot be preserved unimpaired, 
without strict conformity to their fundamental law. 
Every provision, in each Constitution, was intended to 
conserve, either positively or negatively, some great right 
or interest; consequently the infraction of any provision 
must hurt some one or more members of the body politic. 

The act of assuming office whether Executive, Legis¬ 
lative or Judicial, in such governments, imposes on the 
officer an imperative obligation to conform his action to 
the Constitution creating the office. But so sacred were 
these instruments, in the estimation of their framers, 
that by the terms of each—a solemn oath to support it 
(which implies obedience to it) was made the key which 
unlocked the door of admission to office. Thus was im¬ 
posed upon official action the highest possible moral 
sanction, and this brings it directly within the scope of 
this address, for it is with political morality, not with 
political parties we deal. If high functionaries disregard 
such obligations, their practices should be subjected to 
animadversion, for morality's sake. 

In this view, no thought is entertained of discussing 
antagonistic theories of government, or of arraigning, at 
the bar of public opinion, the policy of any party which, 
in the lapse of years, may for a time have ruled the 
country. American political history is all quite modern. 
Very many who are now intelligent and interested ob¬ 
servers of passing events, have been so, during more than 


26 


half the existence of the Republic, The public records 
and tradition readily supply knowledge of what trans¬ 
pired before their day. The press is free, vigilant, and 
bold, and though at times unhappily licentious, it is still 
the vehicle of information, which, in public view, is so 
sifted, as to make truth easily accessible. Let then 
every right minded, intelligent citizen, in the interest of 
pure morality, and good government, investigate for 
himself, the operations of our governments, great and 
small, in their larger movements, and their administra¬ 
tive details. Let him consider whether, in these, the 
positive behests of fundamental law, or the suggestions 
of temporary expediency, exert most potent sway—whether 
the general welfare, on the one hand, or local interests, 
personal advancement, and pecuniary emolument, on the 
other, are most consulted by the trusted servants of the 
people. After such faithful scrutiny, let him respond 
whether the public service, during the last four decades, 
evinces intention as pure, patriotism as devoted, labor 
as self-sacrificing, as characterized it, in the four prece¬ 
ding. Then, limiting his view, let him answer, whether, 
in this our day, the standard of personal, social, and 
commercial morality, towers as loftily, as in the earlier 
years of our national existence. 

If the earnest searcher for truth find himself constrained 
to return to both inquiries a negative answer, however 
humiliating the result, he cannot escape the conclusion, 
that the American type of civilization in the nineteenth 
century is lamentably at fault. He must concede that it 
has failed to develop and strengthen man's moral nature, 
proportionally with his intellectual capacity—that it ha3 
increased his power, but has failed to sanctify his motives, 
to direct aright his purposes—that it has been altogether 
utilitarian, in no degree spiritualizing. If these things 
be so, it is the part of wisdom to attempt no concealment 
of the opprobrium. 


27 


Far better were it that all good and true men realized 
at once, that as a People, we are enveloped in the chill 
and gloom of a moral penumbra, which may, or may not 
deepen into total eclipse. By the laws of Nature, shad¬ 
ows fall now here, now there, in the ordained revolutions 
of our planetary system; from which, by operation of the 
same laws, here speedily follows an emergence into 
customary warmth and light. But this obscuration is 
cast by a cumulus of iniquity, intercepting the light of 
the Sun of Righteousness. It has been raised by the 
hand of man, and its sickly shade will rest upon him, 
until, in an awakened spirit of reform, he shall arise, in 
his strength and demolish it. We may justly claim* 
that at this moment, each great division of our Country 
can produce many, very many men, who have established 
characters, as pure and lofty, as grace the annals of any, 
age or nation. But either, these have been too quiescent, 
have not with sufficient energy and concert, stemmed 
the rising tide of degeneracy, or there are causes at work 
beyond their power of resistance. Most probably they 
have suffered themselves to be divided and estranged by 
ephemeral questions of interest, or policy, which, during 
their brief pendency, were passing trivial, compared with 
the maintenance of public virtue. An inquiry into the 
causes of demoralization may not be unprofitable. 

Self-love is the promptest and the strongest incentive 
to human action; and it is universal. Its absence as¬ 
certained, would disclose a case of imperfect organization. 
It was implanted for wise and good purposes; and prop¬ 
erly regulated conserves life, health, power; energizes 
action; and binds the individual to his fellows with links 
of steel. Unduly intensified, or perverted, it either wraps 
itself in isolation, or antagonizes all having community 
of interest, or identity of pursuit. As a morbid incentive, 


28 


it is Protean in shape. It sometimes develops love of 
ease—whose devotee is a drone in the social hive, that 
having no sting, does positive harm to none. But he is 
a blank in creation, a lost power in progressive movement. 
Again it is manifested in exclusive love of pleasure, 
whose votary is impelled by constantly recurring satiety 
to seek incessantly new and more exciting pastimes. He 
first glides into vice, then plunges into crime. His ex¬ 
ample is pernicious to youth, his life adverse to all good, 
his end ignominious. Another shape assumed by this 
perverted passion is love of money, doubtless the most 
insatiate of evil cravings. Its victim will accumulate 
treasure, honestly when he may, but accumulate he will. 

According to his personal idiocrasy, he will extort, or 
swindle, or steal, or rob. He preys upon private purses, 
corporate fiscs or public treasuries. Still another phase, 
is inordinate ambition, or desire for personal preferment, 
very distinguishable from aspiration for fame, based on 
good works. The subject of this moral distemper is de¬ 
void of capacity, or of purpose, to promote the interest 
of a confiding constituency. He wins his upward way 
by singing paeans to liberty, by flattering a credulous 
populace, by all the arts of the demagogue, by bartering 
to more advanced and equally unscrupulous adventurers, 
service for promotion. He ends in shameless venality, ma¬ 
king merchandise of political power, and trafficing with 
lobbyists, those pestilent teasers and corrupters of 
modern Law-givers. 

Consider now the practices of these several classes— 
the idle, the vicious, the intensely avaricious, and the 
selfishly ambitious. Are they not the chief authors of 
the ills that afflict the body politic, and is not exaggera¬ 
ted, perverted self-love, the main spring of their action? 
It is a passion which grows upon indulgence—which 
first stifles, and then eradicates purer and more ennobling 


affections of the heart. Take one example. The senti¬ 
ment of reverence, unmingled with abject fear, will be 
found in all well-balanced characters. It is one of virtue’s 
strongholds—a safegurd against temptation. Self-love 
and reverence are by no means incompatible; and where 
they coexist, the former will be found regulated—restrain¬ 
ed within proper limits. But whensoever it transcends 
these, it forthwith wars against reverence. If suffered 
to reach a high exaltation, to which it steadily tends, it 
will assuredly banish from the heart, that indispensable 
counterpoise; instances of which are but too common. 
How lamentable the state of a man wdiose heart has been 
the seat of such a conflict—so ending. Reverence for 
parents, reverence for society, reverence for government— 
and lastly, reverence for Deity—all gone. To compass 
an end, he may affect the virtue, in any one of those 
forms, but in neither, as an obstruction to selfish desire, 
is there any residuary force. Day by day the dominan 
passion becomes more and more masterful. The distinc¬ 
tion between meum and tuum, if recognized at all, is but 
a shadowy barrier to covetousness, whether its object be 
riches, or fame. 

The prolific source of this growing, desolating evil, 
will be found in the neglect or misconception of early 
moral training; nor is the error confined to circles of the 
ignorant and vicious. The moulding of character—the 
impress of virtue—the repression of bad propensities, by 
the hand of authority, is often (probably in a majority of 
cases) too long postponed. So soon as discernment of the 
qualities of objects is developed, and desire is seen to 
fasten upon them, just so soon may the work of discipline 
begin. It is precisely then that vigilant, anxious parents 
detect the first promptings of self-love, which in very 
infancy, often takes the proportions of severe exaction. 
Just then, they owe their child—the child of the State— 


30 


the child of God, the duty of repression; the neglect of 
which will be visited upon them ten-fold, in after time, 
by the neglect of correlative filial duty. Faithfully per¬ 
formed in early childhood, it will scarcely ever fail of suc¬ 
cess. The first out-growth will be reverence for parental 
authority, which may be easily expanded, and directed 
to all objects justly claiming the tribute,—culminating 
in reverence for Deity, which is, after all, the surest 
anchorage for pure morality. Then may their boy be 
hopefully handed over to the professional educators of 
youth. 

And these also, from the autocrat of the primary school, 
to the chancellor and professors of the amplified Univer¬ 
sity, occupy most honorable, and responsible fiduciary 
positions. They stand in loco parentis,—they undertake 
to make good citizens for the country—they are trusted 
factors in the grand enterprise of civilization. Any one 
of them, in the whole ascending series, who imagines 
that his entire duty is performed, when his pupil has 
imbibed the rudiments of the primer, or mastered the 
ancient languages—or become familiar with the puzzling 
intricacies of conic sections and the calculus, or thorough¬ 
ly learned the text books in his particular department, 
mistakes the scope and the dignity of his mission. It is 
the imperative duty of each and all, to elaborate moral 
training properly begun, to supply neglect, and to correct 
the errors of ignorance; in one word, to see to it that 
whilst the intellect is expanded, the heart is purified, and 
imbued with elevating principles. Their daily counsels 
go with the pupil for good, or for evil, through life. 

How many witnesses would willingly rise in this as¬ 
sembly, and testify to the precious lessons of wisdom^ 
and virtue, given them by the eminent and revered man ? 
who for more than half a century presided over this In¬ 
stitution of learning. To an almost intuitive discern- 


31 


ment of character, he united a quick perception of means 
best calculated to secure confidence, and open the heart 
to paternal teachings, which his lips distilled upon it, 
like the dew of Hermon, softening—quickening—and 
blessing. He was ever averse to punishment entailing 
disgrace, for that, he thought made the perverse desper¬ 
ate. Expulsion he deprecated, because it broke his hold 
upon the erring; and never resorted to it, until his own 
large heart despaired of reform, and discipline demanded 
an example. He thoroughly understood the ways of the 
world, and wisely taught his pupils, how to walk in them 
without having their feet ensnared, or their garments 
soiled. It is difficult to determine whether he accom¬ 
plished most by private communion, or by more general 
exhortatioq; but we remember in the former, personal 
application, made with winning tenderness; and in the 
latter, logic unanswerable, and eloquence which stirred 
the depths of feeling. Ah! memory treasures fondly, the 
tones of his voice, now hushed, and the beaming of his 
eye, now closed forever, on earthly scenes. It is an un¬ 
speakable, though melancholy pleasure, to unite with so 
many of his pupils, here in these halls, from which we 
can hardly dissociate his presence, in paying a loving 
though feeble tribute to the best, because the wisest and 
most paternal educator, our country has produced. 

Society is also a potent agent in the formation of 
character, and it is worthy of consideration, whether or 
not this agency may be materially improved. Its move¬ 
ments and influences are under the control of men and 
women of middle age, but, according to American usage, 
participation in them does not wait upon actual maturity. 
Admission to its membership of immature youths, involves 
very grave responsibility. Where social morality is 
above criticism, these novitiates are more likely to ad¬ 
vance, than to retrograde, in virtue. For them refined, 


32 


intellectual society has peculiar fascinations, and if ex¬ 
clusion were made the penalty of incipient, as well as of 
gross and defiant immorality, many precious brands 
might be saved from consuming fire. Receive them then, 
as a sacred charge, and cultivate them assiduously. 

In the domestic and social circles, which so blend as 
to form virtually one arena, there should be found the 
purest manifestation of human association; and that is 
the appropriate theatre for the display of woman’s su¬ 
premacy. True womanhood, in the human species, like 
the diamond, in the mineral kingdom, exhibits the most 
perfect crystallization. Man, therefore, with admirable 
taste, concedes to her adornment this peerless jewel. 
But who would think of any setting for the diamond, 
other than one of Nature’s purest metals, double refined. 

So let woman’s throne be reared in the sanctum sanc¬ 
torum of life. There let her magic sway aid in the 
moulding of characters fitted to lead in the grand march 
of civilization. 

The civilization of ancient days, which for a time 
loomed up with dazzling splendor, and seemed fairly to 
promise the general elevation of mankind, fellg speedily 
into decay, for lack of the one enduring cement—pure 
morality. The morals of a people take tone from their 
religion or system of belief in a supreme disposing Divin¬ 
ity. The founders of those extinct civilizations not 
only established governments, to control individuals in 
their mutual relations; they also constructed systems of 
religion—proclaimed to the populace the existence of 
Divinity, represented by Gods many, each presiding over 
some special department of human affairs. What wonder 
that Gods, the creations of impure, un sanctified intelli¬ 
gence, were themselves ingrained with impurities—that 
sanction was given to social immoralities, by accrediting 
them as favorite pastimes of acknowledged Deities—or 


33 


that the existence among them of jealousies, hates and 
intrigues, encouraged like passions and practices among 
their worshippers. What though the productions of 
their poets, orators, statesmen, philosophers, and his¬ 
torians have come down to our times, and are embodied 
in our clossical lore. These are the fruits of high men¬ 
tal culture, and are imperishable. What though they 
built for themselves imperial palaces—reared and dedi¬ 
cated to their false Gods gorgeous temples—constructed 
vast ampitheatres, for the indulgence of a savage delight 
in sanguinary combat between men, and between men 
and beasts. With their unsubstantial, dissolving systems, 
all these stupendous works of art have been abandoned 
to dilapidation. The seruins, grand even in their deso¬ 
lation, seem spared from utter destruction, as warning 
memorials of a false civilization. Reading the lesson they 
teach, dare we hope, that because we acknowledge the 
one true and living God, and profess this His revealed 
religion, though witholding due reverence from Him, and 
practical obedience from it, we shall escape a like doom? 
No verily, it is practice not profession, that constitutes 
true morality, and gives stability to civilization. 

The present hope of the country rests mainly on those 
who stand now upon the line which separates the prep¬ 
aratory from the active stages of life. They have been 
drinking freely at the fountains of knowledge. The ac¬ 
cumulated treasures of science have been offered to their 
acceptance. History, ancient and modern, has enveloped 
them in a flood of light, greater than ever illumined the 
pathway of their predecessors. Themselves have been 
witnesses of recent events, which indicate the drift of 
opinion and principle, and foreshadow impending peril. 
Could the voice of the Speaker this moment reach all 
such of them as elect a public career, he would say to 
them; to morrow you enter upon the duties and respon- 


34 


sibilities of manhood, and you voluntarily dedicate 
yourselves to the service of your country. You are not 
hackneyed in the ways of political aspirants; you are 
neither trammelled hy creeds, nor committed to theories. 
Standing then on the threshold, survey that country in 
its vast extent—its diversified physical greatness—its 
rapidly growing population—its religious, scientific and 
civil institutions—and its varied industrial pursuits. 
Remember the colonial servitude thrown off, and the 
free government built up, within a century; study pro¬ 
foundly its fundamental principles, epitomized in the 
Declaration of Independence, and in the Federal and 
State constitutions. Forecast its future; see what an 
impressive exponent it may become, either of regulated 
liberty, or of revolting anarchy, as it may be well or ill 
administered. Is there in your entire range of view, 
either scope for sectional controversy, or verge for selfish 
scheming? Hear 

“ Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory, 

“ And sounded all the depths and shoals of honor.” 

He has just seen the sunny smile, in which he had 
long basked, vanish from the face of his royal master, 
and an angry cloud darken his brow. He tremblingly 
unfolds and reads a paper from the hand of the departed 
King, explanatory of the change, and then, 

“ This paper has undone me. ‘Tis the account 
“ Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together, 

“ For mine own ends; indeed, to gain the popedom 
“ And fee my friends in Rome.” 

Lastly, in farewell, to his faithful pupil and servitor: 

“ Mark but my fall, and that, that ruined me 
11 Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition; 

“By that sin, fell the angels; how can man, then, 

“ The image of his Maker, hope to win by’t. 

“ Love thyself last.” 

“ Be just and fear not. 


35 


11 Let all the ends thou aim’st at he thy country’s, 

“ Thy God’s, and truth’s; then if thou fall’st, 0 Cromwell, 

11 Thou fall’st a blessed martyr.” 

Accept the confession of the repentant traitor, fallen 
from the height of honor to the depth of infamy, as a 
solemn warning. Take, as the guide of your lives, his 
parting counsels, learned in a career of wicked prosperity, 
and purified in the school of merited adversity. As 
* surely as you live, they point unerringly to the evil of 
our day—to the corrective it is your high privilege to 
apply—and to the honor that waits even upon failure, in 
the honest, earnest effort. 

Your country has recently past through a terrible 
crisis—nothing less than protracted, desolating, demor¬ 
alizing civil war; upon which the usual sequences of 
disorder, distrust and heart-burning have ensued. Seeing 
that nine years have elapsed since the cessation of actual 
hostilities, is it not time that these embers had, every 
wdiere, ceased to glow? Is sectional discord compatible 
with federative union? If the present time be not pro¬ 
pitious for conciliation, for the restoration of pristine 
relations between the several States and the United 
States, and for a return to the pure, simple and econom¬ 
ical administration of Republican Government, when 
may we hope for it? In the effort to accomplish these 
grand results, which would most surely guarantee per¬ 
petual union, the speaker hazards nothing in saying, the 
People among whom his lot, for weal or for woe, has 
been cast, will unite with all possible energy of mind and 
fervor of heart. 

It is just half a century since a few of us, now here 
met, went forth from these Halls, certified competitors 
for the prizes of life. That is a large, a very large por¬ 
tion of the span allotted to man—a long, a very long 
time to have worn the armour of its fluctuating, uncer- 


36 


tain battle. Commencing the count from the dawn of 
maturity, its full complement leaves to the weary strug¬ 
gle^ little, save the memories of the past. The associa¬ 
tions of this occasion most vividly awaken, reminiscences 
connected with our beloved Alma Mater, and with the 
society whose anniversary we now celebrate. The mani¬ 
fest enlargement of the former, during those years, quite 
commensurate with the growth of the country, is most 
cheering to the lovers of science, and especially so to those 
privileged to claim affiliation with her. All the more so 
in view of unmistakable, present active progress. All 
hail! venerable Mother. Go on with unrelaxing energy, 
to enlighten successive generations, and to illustrate the 
Empire State of the Union. 

You, Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Phi Beta 
Kappa Society, will readily comprehend the emotions 
which this moment overpower the Speaker, when he re¬ 
minds you that the earliest, and the latest distinctive 
honors of his life, have been of your bestowal. The first 
admitted him, in the flush of youth and hope, to mem¬ 
bership with your philosophic brotherhood. The last 
summoned him, in the evening of his life, from his far 
distant home, to be your spokesman on this interesting 
re-union. He is here, after a long pilgrimage, to review 
the associations of “auld lang syne,” and to assure you 
that however, feeble, and fruitless his personal efforts, 
he has ever recognized Philosophy as the guide of life. 
And what better guide can wayward man have through¬ 
out its labyrinthic course. Philosophy is literally the 
love of wisdom. And “ the fear of God is the beginning 
of wisdom.’’ The faithful followers of such guidance 
must sooner or later be recognized, as lights of society, 
or pillars of Government, or active promoters of Christian 
Civilization. 







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